The AIF Project

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Reported as missing in action, 25 April 1915; fate confirmed as killed in action by Court of Inquiry held at Rouen, France, 3-5 September 1917; confirmed by Lt Gen Birdwood, 23 September 1917.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2810912N, 187 Pte W.J. DAVIES, 7th Bn, 15 August 1916: 'Informant states that the above casualties [157 A.W. VEITCH and father, 158 D. VEITCH] were probably taken prisoner. They were behind a bush shooting at the advancing Turks on the 25th April. We were all withdrawn save a batch including the abovenamed casualties. Informant was sent back to the beach for ammunition. Informant is strongly of the opinion that the above were taken prisoners.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal